Northern Governors Unveil Fund To Address Insecurity

Morganable Politics/Governance

Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, announced the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund on Wednesday during a high-level meeting of the forum in Kaduna

kaNo —

The 19 governors of Northern Nigeria have unveiled a regional security initiative aimed at tackling the persistent wave of insecurity across the region, marking what they described as a decisive shift towards coordinated action.

Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, announced the establishment of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund on Wednesday during a high-level meeting of the forum in Kaduna.

The event also featured the inauguration of the fund’s Board of Trustees, signalling the formal take-off of the initiative.

Yahaya said the move reflected the collective resolve of northern leaders to address what he called a deepening security crisis that continues to threaten lives, livelihoods and economic development across the region.

According to a statement issued by the Director-General of Press Affairs at the Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, the governor described the launch of the fund as a “significant milestone” in the region’s efforts to confront insecurity.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our collective effort to confront one of the most serious challenges facing Northern Nigeria: the challenge of insecurity,” Yahaya said.

He lamented that threats such as banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and drug abuse had persisted across all northern states, undermining peaceful coexistence and weakening social cohesion.

“Across the North, in every state, these threats have continued to disrupt livelihoods, destroy communities and slow down development,” he added.

The governor recalled that during previous meetings held in Kaduna and Abuja, the forum agreed on the need for urgent and coordinated measures to address the crisis.

He noted that while the Federal Government retains primary responsibility for national security, the states had resolved to play a more active complementary role.

“It was in furtherance of this commitment that the Forum resolved to establish the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund,” he said.

Yahaya explained that the fund is designed to mobilise financial resources, enhance intelligence sharing, strengthen regional coordination and support the operations of federal security agencies in protecting lives and property.

He described the inauguration of the Board of Trustees as the first concrete step towards operationalising the initiative, noting that members were selected from across the 19 northern states based on merit, integrity and professional experience.

“The members of the Board of Trustees are men who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour. We are confident they will bring their experience, patriotism and a deep understanding of the urgency of the moment to bear,” he said.

The governor, however, warned against allowing the trust fund to become another bureaucratic structure without tangible results. He charged the trustees to focus on delivering measurable impact.

“The Trust Fund must not become an administrative structure that merely holds meetings. It must function as a focused, responsive and credible platform for resource mobilisation and strategic support,” Yahaya stressed.

He added that the success of the initiative would be judged by its effectiveness in improving intelligence gathering, security coordination, rapid response mechanisms and overall protection of lives and property.

To ensure adequate funding, Yahaya reminded his colleagues of an earlier agreement by the governors for each state, along with its local governments, to contribute ₦1 billion monthly for a period of 12 months.

“I wish to commend the states that have already begun redeeming their commitments,” he said. “However, the task before us is too urgent and too important to be left to a few states alone.”

He urged all governors to honour their pledges promptly and consistently, noting that sustained funding would be critical to the success of the initiative.

“Our commitment must be demonstrated not only in resolutions and communiqués, but also in timely financial contributions and concrete actions,” he added.

Describing insecurity as a “stark and grievous reality,” Yahaya warned that the crisis was having far-reaching consequences, including the displacement of communities, disruption of farming activities and a decline in investor confidence.

“If we are to win this battle, we must match our words with action, our concerns with resources and our resolutions with proper implementation,” he said.

The governor commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government for ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity nationwide, including reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s security architecture.

He also welcomed ongoing discussions around the establishment of state police, describing it as a potential game-changer in addressing localised security challenges.

However, Yahaya emphasised that the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund is not intended to replace existing national security structures but to complement them.

“Its purpose is to support coordination, strengthen partnerships and enable the Northern States to make a more effective contribution to national security efforts,” he said.

Beyond security operations, the governor stressed the importance of addressing the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and the growing number of out-of-school children.

“Security operations are necessary, but they must be reinforced by investments in education, agriculture, youth empowerment and skills development,” he noted.

He also called for measures to protect farmers, particularly during the rainy season, and to prevent communal clashes that often escalate into broader conflicts.

He advocated for livestock transformation and modern agricultural practices as part of efforts to stabilise the region’s economy.

Yahaya further appealed for unity and collaboration among stakeholders, including traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and the private sector.

“Security is not the responsibility of government alone. It is a collective duty, and every stakeholder has a role to play,” he said.

He urged all stakeholders to rise above narrow interests and work together to restore peace, rebuild trust and create a more secure environment for development.

In his remarks, the host governor, Uba Sani, acknowledged the Federal Government’s interventions in key sectors such as transportation, agriculture, healthcare, education and infrastructure.

He said the initiatives had laid a solid foundation for long-term growth and stability in the region, adding that northern governors would continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to achieve sustainable development.

Sani also reiterated the urgency of establishing state police, describing it as a strategic necessity given the country’s vast territory and the limited number of security personnel.

“The current number of security operatives is inadequate to effectively police Nigeria’s vast landmass,” he said, stressing that decentralised policing would enhance rapid response and improve local intelligence gathering.

The unveiling of the Northern Nigeria Security Trust Fund comes amid growing concerns over escalating insecurity in the region, with stakeholders expressing hope that the initiative will provide a more coordinated and sustainable approach to restoring peace.